Method for Controlling a Patent's Body Temperature
First Claim
1. A method for altering the body temperature of a living patient having blood circulating through his or her vasculature, said method comprising the step of:
- A. providing a heat exchange catheter having a distal end which is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel of the patient, a heat exchanger which occupies less than the entire length of the catheter, an inflow lumen through which a circulating heat exchange fluid flows into the heat exchanger and an outflow lumen through which the circulating heat exchange fluid flows out of the heat exchanger;
B. inserting the heat exchange catheter into the patient'"'"'s vasculature with the heat exchange balloon in a deflated state;
C. advancing the catheter to a position where the heat exchange balloon is positioned within the blood vessel;
D. circulating heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger without substantially impeding the flow of blood through the blood vessel and resulting in heat exchange between the circulating heat exchange fluid and blood flowing through the blood vessel; and
E. adjusting the temperature of the circulating heat exchange fluid to cause the patient'"'"'s body temperature to be maintained at or changed to a desired body temperature.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling the internal body temperature of a patient. According to the present invention, a catheter is inserted through an incision into a large blood vessel of a patient. By selectively heating or cooling a portion of the catheter lying within the blood vessel, heat may be transferred to or from blood flowing within the vessel and the patient'"'"'s body temperature may thereby be increased or decreased as desired. The invention will find use in treating undesirable conditions of hypothermia and hyperthermia, or for inducing a condition of artificial hypothermia when desired.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for altering the body temperature of a living patient having blood circulating through his or her vasculature, said method comprising the step of:
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A. providing a heat exchange catheter having a distal end which is insertable into the lumen of a blood vessel of the patient, a heat exchanger which occupies less than the entire length of the catheter, an inflow lumen through which a circulating heat exchange fluid flows into the heat exchanger and an outflow lumen through which the circulating heat exchange fluid flows out of the heat exchanger; B. inserting the heat exchange catheter into the patient'"'"'s vasculature with the heat exchange balloon in a deflated state; C. advancing the catheter to a position where the heat exchange balloon is positioned within the blood vessel; D. circulating heat exchange fluid through the heat exchanger without substantially impeding the flow of blood through the blood vessel and resulting in heat exchange between the circulating heat exchange fluid and blood flowing through the blood vessel; and E. adjusting the temperature of the circulating heat exchange fluid to cause the patient'"'"'s body temperature to be maintained at or changed to a desired body temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method according to claim 51 wherein the temperature sensor is located at the distal end of the catheter
Specification